A new installment of Corning Gorilla Glass would be available for making phones much tougher
Gorilla Glass 7i, corning’s recent announcement highlights a shift in smartphone glass technology, where optical properties now matter as much as durability.
Gorilla Glass 7i, Corning’s seventh generation glass, is touted as more durable than competitors, surviving drops from 1 meter onto asphalt and offering double the scratch resistance. This advancement addresses the demands of larger, heavier modern phones. We spoke with Dan Orr, Corning Gorilla Glass’s product line manager and strategy director, about the new 7i glass and industry trends. Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra features Gorilla Glass Armor, which is noted for its anti-reflective coating that reduces reflectance by up to 75%, enhancing readability. According to Orr, while durability remains crucial, optical properties like reduced reflections and improved light transmittance are now significant, enhancing outdoor readability and colour rendering.
Modern OLED displays can reach 4,000-5,000 nits, combating glare but draining batteries quickly. Armour glass allows displays to run at lower brightness while maintaining readability, offering the option to increase brightness when necessary. Currently exclusive to the Galaxy S24 Ultra, Gorilla Armor integrates elements from various Gorilla Glass products, including Victus and Gorilla Glass DX and DX+. Combining these technologies was challenging, as the special coating must be compatible with the glass to ensure durability, scratch resistance, and enhanced optical qualities.
Gorilla Glass 7i, positioned between Gorilla Glass 5 and the Victus series, targets mid-range phones. Although mid-range phones like the Nothing Phone (2a) and Poco F6 Pro still use GG5, which was introduced in 2016, the landscape has changed. Phones are now larger and heavier, demanding more durable glass. The average phone weight in 2016 was 156g, compared to modern “small” phones like the Galaxy S24 at 167g and the Pixel 8a at 188g. Larger, heavier phones increase impact severity, necessitating stronger glass.
[Image Source: Corning Gorilla Glass]
